Marlins stun Pirates with 5-run 8th inning

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The Miami Marlins have some ground to make up if they are to make it to the postseason for the first time since 2003.

However, comeback wins like they had Tuesday night give the Marlins hope as Adeiny Hechavarria had two hits and drove in a run during a decisive five-run rally in the eighth inning to help the Miami Marlins beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3.

The Marlins are 51/2 games behind the first-place Washington Nationals in the National League East and the same amount out of the wild card race.

Hechavarria’s RBI single made it 4-2 after Marcell Ozuna and Jarrod Saltalamacchia drew bases-loaded walks from Justin Wilson to force home the tying and go-ahead runs. Christian Yelich capped the inning with a run-scoring double.

That came after Gregory Polanco put the Pirates ahead 2-1 in the seventh with a run-scoring single.

Giancarlo Stanton and Garrett Jones also had two hits for Miami. Ozuna drove in two runs as he also had an RBI double in the fourth to tie the game at 1-1.

Pittsburgh’s Jordy Mercer had two hits, including a run-scoring double in the third inning.

A.J. Ramos (5-0) got two outs in the seventh inning for the win.

Jared Hughes (6-3) took the loss, though he could have gotten out of the eighth without allowing a run if not for third baseman Josh Harrison booting a potential double play grounder with one out. Hughes put himself in trouble by walking Stanton to start the inning.

“I’ve got to get ahead in the count there,” Hughes said. “Walking the tying run with no one on base is going to come back to get you and it did today.”“

The Marlins had scored just 11 runs in losing four of their previous five games and a total of 13 runs while losing six straight games at Pittsburgh.

Miami left-hander Brad Hand did not pitch at least seven full innings for the first time in four starts but had a solid 61/3-inning outing. The left-hander allowed two runs and six hits while walking one and striking out two.

Hand has a 2.72 ERA in seven starts since being recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.

Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton gave up only one run and six hits in seven innings with four walks and four strikeouts.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez was placed on the bereavement list to attend the funeral of his wife’s grandmother. He may miss up to three games under major league rules.